Looking back at El Paso
It still looks good from Bavaria, Germany
By Patricia Ann Kagerer
Along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, nestled in the Chihuahua desert, the Rio Grande divides the borders of Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. This is where I was raised in a city called El Paso. Here is where I learned at a young age that beauty is found in remote, unobvious places. Traveling home this year after living for a few years in undeniably gorgeous Southern Bavaria, I found myself appreciating, even more, the subtle beauty of the desert landscape and the artistic culture of the Southwest.
El Paso is more well known among the Germans than one would think due to a large presence of German soldiers stationed at Fort Bliss and up the road in New Mexico at Holloman Air Force Base. In fact it is due to this presence that many a Southwestern girl finds herself married and living in Germany.
One of my husband's first impressions of El Paso occurred as his plane circled the Franklin Mountains in preparation for landing. My husband looked out the airplane window, expecting to see something similar to the rich green plains and tree covered wood of his homeland. Instead he found a brown barren expanse of sand that seemed to go on forever. As he got off the plane in the middle of September, in his blue wool Air Force uniform, the heat waves sprang up from the concrete pavement and engulfed him, causing his sweat glands to explode and his skin to become uncomfortably wet and itchy. He had never felt heat like this before. How would he survive six months in the middle of this hot, dry nowhereland?!
Luckily for me, Markus was much more open minded and eager to search for Simply the Best the desert Southwest had to offer. It didn't take him long to appreciate the spicy taste of the Southwest cuisine, the liveliness of the Mexican bars as well as the fun of the Texas Two Step. He soon came to love the fact that the sun shines everyday and he did not have to worry about a coat, much less hats, and gloves. No more scraping windows and big heavy shoes for this soldier. Along with the fun and nightlife we found some favorite places to shop, eat and ski in the midst of the desert.
One of the best things about the Sun City ( El Paso) is that you can do just about anything you want to if you are willing to drive about two hours. Just pick an activity and a direction to head in and you're halfway there.
One of my favorite spots is Ruidoso, New Mexico. Ruidoso offers not only shopping, history, a full casino and a horse racing track, it also has the only ski resort in the area. People come from all over Texas, New Mexico and Arizona to meet the challenge of the slopes of Ski Apache. This year the amount of snow they received would turn the Bavarian Alps green with envy.
As you head out the barren highway toward Ruidoso, you can see on the horizon a large mountain peak covered with snow. It is on that peak that I not only learned to ski, but have had some of the most challenging runs and the best skiing yet. Almost everyday at Ski Apache is spring skiing day. It is rare that the sun doesn't peak its head out for most of the afternoon. I immediately became a spoiled, fair weather skier, because I could wait a few hours and a bright shiny day was sure to follow. After a day of skiing, you can enjoy many of the reasonably priced restaurants that serve up just about any cuisine you might be looking for. My favorite is the "Casa Blanca," with its rustic look and its spicy Mexican food as well as the best margaritas in town.
Ruidoso has, in the past years, become one of the cultural centers of the area. With the opening of the "Spencer Theater," founded by Jackie Spencer, the entertainment provided in Ruidoso is top notch.. Since its opening last October, every show has been sold out and the entertainment is nothing but the best. The theatre has had top entertainers from around the world as guests and the people keep on flocking to this unexpected diamond in the desert.
If a more calm afternoon is what you are looking for then take the back road toward Columbus, New Mexico and head for the border. Palomas, Mexico is a small little town with a lot to offer the open minded searching for the best. In this town of dirt roads and adobe buildings, you will find simply the best Mexican food restaurant along with a great shopping experience.
Complimentary margaritas are offered as you walk in from the dusty sidewalk into Casa de Pancho Villa Restaurant and the Pink Store. The minute you enter, you are surrounded by artistic treasures - hand painted vases, wood furniture, shranks, tables, chairs, trunks and room dividers, all intricately carved by hand with a southwestern flair. Southwestern jewelry blankets wallhangings, sculptures, toys, dolls, and the list goes on. All of the items are true works of art and surprisingly something can be found to meet every range of wallet size. If you can pull yourself away from the many intriguing items in the shop, the best tacos, chile rellenos, chile con queso are waiting to be served. The owners, Ivonne and Sergio Romero, have created an atmosphere of pleasure as you are serenaded by the restaurant's own singer who could make Julio Iglesias stop and take notice. What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and take with you a geat memory as well as some affordabe decorating gems that cannot be found elsewhere.
So when you are planning your next trip-live on the edge- be different! Instead of hitting the tourist spots with everyone else, take the unbeaten path, the road less travelled. Open your eyes and your heart will follow. Visit the "Sun City" and its surrounding areas and experience simply the best.
Copyright 2003 by Cristo Rey Communications. E-mail to epscene@epscene.com